Welcome to Congregation Beth Israel

We are an inclusive Jewish community in the Merrimack Valley that offers an atmosphere of warmth and friendship to all. We cherish and uphold the traditions that give meaning and beauty to our present-day Jewish lives.

At Congregation Beth Israel, our members are engaged in all facets of synagogue life – ritual and prayer, social action (tikkun olam), education and learning, and social connection.

We embrace a membership that is varied and diverse. One of our most fervent commitments is to each other, both in times of joy and in times of grief. We believe that everyone in our synagogue community has something precious to offer and hope you will find your Jewish spiritual home with us.

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A Special Torah

CBI has the honor of owning a Torah scroll from the Czech Republic that was looted by the Nazis during 1939 – 1945. It and 1563 other Torahs were reclaimed by Holocaust survivors after the war and stored in a synagogue in Prague. Eventually, in 1964, these Torahs were moved to a synagogue in London. Our Torah (#464 of the group) was purchased by the Mizner family and generously donated to Temple Beth El in Lowell in memory of their parents.

In early 2024, the 60th anniversary of these Torahs’ journey to London was observed. Our Czech Torah has witnessed both the most ordinary and the most extraordinary events in history, both good and bad. This year, during our Yom Kippur Martyrology service, we took our special Torah out of it’s display case and gave the congregation an opportunity to view it up close. It was a poignant opportunity to reach into the past while praying for our future.

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The Book Club has made it’s selections for the 2025-2026 season. The first book, “The Red House”, by Mary Morris, will be discussed Thursday evening, 11/6/2025.   So get your book and begin to read!  The book discussion will be at 7:30 pm, after minyan, and will be both in-person and online.Click here for more details

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Also, coming soon!   The Boston Jewish Film Festival occurs in November.   We plan to attend a movie on Saturday night November 8, at the Brattle Square Theater in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA.  The movie is called ‘Coexistence My Ass’, a documentary depicting an Israeli, Sephardi comedian,  in her one-woman show about the struggle for equality for both Israel and Palestine. Click here for more details

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Our first Shabbat Chai of 5786 will take place at CBI on Friday night November 21.  A 6:30 potluck dinner will precede the 7:30 service.  Please contact Janet to reserve a spot and what you plan to bring to dinner.Click here for more details

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On Sunday afternoon, December 7, at 3:00 pm we will enjoy music and stories from the Iraqi Jewish tradition, presented by Yoni Battat, a local musician, who brings Arab music into the soundscape of American Jewish life.  A reception will follow the presentation.  Click here for more details

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On April 24, we hosted a program featuring a Holocaust survivor, Endre (Andy) Sarkany, who spoke to us about his experience living in a Budapest ghetto during the Holocaust. His father was taken to the Mathausen concentration camp in 1944, and fortunately he survived. That presentation has been saved in the cloud, and you can watch this presentation in a Dropbox video, the link which can be found on the  Holidays and Festivals page which can be found under the ‘Shabbat and Holidays’ Heading.

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We had a wonderful presentation on Olive Oil by an olive oil farmer in Rish Lakish Israel, Ayala Noimeir. Her family’s oil-press is located in the village of Zippori in the Lower Galilee, 5km from Nazareth.  You can watch her presentation in a Dropbox video, the link to which can be found on the Social Events page, under the ‘Our Community’ Heading.

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Rabbi Mandell presented a 90-minute talk entitled “No ifs, ands, or buts, Antisemitism always has been and remains indefensible” on Sunday morning March 2. You can watch that Dropbox video by clicking the link in the Adult Education page which can be found under the ‘Our Community’ Heading.

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Updated CBI Health and Safety Protocols

• No person should attend an in-person event if feeling ill.  Remember this can mean a sore throat or stuffed nose.
• All in-person attendees must be vaccinated , and boosters are highly recommended.
• Masking is recommended and may sometimes be mandated if a large group is present.
• Food will be served in a common room and each participant can decide if they care to partake.
• Ventilation will be maintained with open windows.
• Individuals should maintain a distance between each other during most of the participation.
• A roster of attendees will be maintained in the Sanctuary in case contact tracing is indicated.
• All events, when possible, should be offered in a hybrid model; exceptions may be a hike or other outdoor events. Some events may be better presented as only virtual.