Beth El FAQs

No. While some activities such as voting at a meeting or access to pastoral services are limited to members, many of our services and educational programs are open to all. Membership includes free attendance at High Holiday services, access to pastoral services, voting at meetings, and officiation at life cycle events. Learn more about membership, or start by signing up for our weekly e-newsletter.

At Beth El, we believe that participation in a community should be accessible to everyone. No one should be excluded because of financial constraints. Visit our membership page for information on joining. Questions? Please email us!

Beth El is home to many interfaith families and Jews by choice as well as people who grew up in traditionally observant homes.  Everyone is embraced in our community regardless of their background. We thrive on building relationships that help us see the world from many perspectives.

Absolutely! Beth El includes many interfaith families, and the non-Jewish members are welcome to participate in almost every facet of life at Beth El. While parts of our services are in Hebrew, Beth El’s gender-neutral prayer book Vetaher Libenu (“Purify Our Hearts,” written by members of our congregation) has English translations and transliterations, and our service leaders make a point of sharing page numbers to ensure that we remain together as we pray.

Yes! Beth El warmly invites all families to participate in all levels of community life. We seek the active involvement by everyone in worship, learning, the social life of the congregation, repairing the world, and congregational leadership at every level. We believe that:

• Every person is created in God’s image and has equal value and dignity no matter who they are. 
• Our community is enriched by diversity in all its forms.
• We benefit individually and as a community when we recognize that every person’s identity is a complex mix, and no one is defined by a single story.
• Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging requires ongoing learning, reflection, action, and personal and institutional transformation.  
• People of all gender identities should be comfortable visiting and using our gender-neutral bathrooms.

While Beth El is a Reform-affiliated synagogue, congregants practice many different levels of Jewish observance. We come from all backgrounds ranging from non-observant/non-Jewish to those who grew up in more religious atmospheres.

Many of our members neither read nor speak Hebrew, and that’s OK. Our services feature a mix of Hebrew and English and provide plenty of opportunities for spiritual and musical participation, which transcend language. Our siddur (prayer book) has been transliterated so those who don’t read Hebrew can fully participate. For those who would like to learn Hebrew, beginner level classes are offered.

We encourage comfort and authenticity over formality. For weekly services, some people wear everyday clothes and others wear their work clothes. Some people dress up for High Holiday services and  cycle events. Tallitot (prayer shawls) and kippot (yarmulkes) are optional, and we have extras.

In order to be inclusive of a wide range of needs, food served on the premises is vegetarian and contains only kosher ingredients, with allergens clearly marked for each dish when necessary. If you have any questions about this aspect of our community life, please contact our temple administrator at templeadmin@bethelsudbury.org.

About 18 months prior to turning 13, our students are assigned a b’nai mitzvah date as close as possible to their birthday. They and their families study with our clergy in Torah Class, which culminates in a weekend Shabbat retreat. Together they explore questions of Jewish identity in the 21st century, role-play issues in Jewish ethics, and draw together in friendship and support. Under the guidance of our clergy, our students learn to chant verses from Torah and from the Prophets (haftarah). They also prepare a d’var Torah (sermon) in which they share their unique insights into their Torah portion and their relationship to their Jewish heritage. Additionally, the gabbai (rabbi’s assistant) for the student’s b’nai mitzvah service provides support and guidance throughout the process.

Beth El differs from many other reform congregations in that b’nai mitzvah ceremonies are community celebrations that take place as part of our regular Shabbat services on Saturdays. Afterwards, the congregation celebrates together with the family and guests at a kiddush luncheon, where food is often prepared by congregants as part of our Community Catering program. Many families also opt to have an evening gathering at a different location.

There’s something for everyone…

• Our robust youth and family education programs welcome children from birth all the way through Siyyum (high school graduation). New students in grades K–12 get a 50% discount on tuition and free family membership for the first year! There are also fun and educational programs specifically for teens.
• Adult learning opportunities abound, ranging from weekly Torah and Hasidic tales study groups to monthly book groups, Hebrew classes, lecture series such as Wise Aging, and more. Upcoming activities and events are listed on our home page. Some previous programs include a five-part discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a Christmas Eve Chinese dinner and movie, meditation and tai chi classes, communal cooking opportunities, a strong community art program, wine/beer/chocolate tasting, and more.
• Beth El has a strong social justice focus, particularly in the areas of antiracism, antisemitism, climate action, and immigration reform. Learn more on our Tikkun Olam Opportunities page.

Services are held in person, via live-stream, and on Zoom. Many classes and special events are also hybrid. Masking is optional, though this policy is subject to change as circumstances dictate. You will find special events with registration and Zoom links on our home page under “Upcoming Events.” Weekly service/study schedules, remote viewing links, and study materials can be found here.

Just show up!

• Come to Shabbat services or a study group. Then stay, get something to eat, and chat with other attendees at the oneg or kiddush after services. 
• Attend one of the other events listed on our home page and in our weekly e-newsletter, Mah Chadash? (“What’s New?”).
• Come to one of our frequent musical events, talks, annual Purim Spiel, Tu B’Shevat seder, and many other celebrations.
• If you have children in grades preK-12, contact Director of Education Shoni Aronovich to learn more about ways your kids can get involved.
• Check out our many groups and committees to connect with people who share similar interests and passions.

We are committed to full accessibility at Beth El (see details on our Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility page). This has meant making improvements to our building, expanding our prayer life, and designing accessible programming. Our building and garden are fully wheelchair-accessible. We also have large-print prayer books, hearing assistance devices, and a fragrance-free section during services.

At Beth El, we take the safety and security of our members and friends very seriously. Our Safety and Security Task Force constantly reviews our procedures to ensure that they are up to date. We have trained greeters at our doors and professional armed security guards at many programs and events. We utilize video surveillance throughout the building and are regularly patrolled by the Sudbury Police Department.