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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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 YouTube video, which can be found on the Social Events page, under the Our Community Heading.

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Our next Shabbat Chai will be on Friday night, February 21, 2025 at 6:30 pm at CBI.  Music for Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv will be presented by Bashert, and we will honor our Rabbi’s special birthday. Please join us!

Click here for more details

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Purim pizza dinner and sing-along:  We plan to re-enjoy the Purim sing-along that we introduced last year.  Please plan to join us on Thursday night, March 13, 2025 at 6:30 at CBI  for pizza and salad, followed by a re-telling of the Purim story with familiar songs from the 60’s and 70’s. We will then celebrate the holiday with Hamantaschen and other Purim desserts. Costumes encouraged!

Click here for more details

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On Sunday morning, March 2, 2025, at 10:00 am, we will have a brunch and listen to a presentation by our spiritual leader, Rabbi Howard Mandell, on the topic of anti-semitism. The title is ‘No ifs, ands, or buts, Antisemitism always has been and remains indefensible.’  Brunch will be served. Everyone is welcome, but registration is required.

Click here for more details

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The Book Club team identified four books for us to read and discuss in the 2024-2025 season. The third book discussion will be held on Thursday night, May 15. It will be a hybrid discussion of the book ‘The Last Watchman of Old Cairo’ by Michael David Lukas. Stay tuned for more details but it is not too late to begin reading the book!

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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.