Bet Shira Congregation
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Official website | www.betshira.org |
Bet Shira Congregation is a Conservative synagogue located in Miami, Florida. It numbers over 550 member families in the Pinecrest suburb of Miami.
History
In February 1985, a nucleus of families heeded the call of Rabbi David H. Auerbach "to go where the children are" and established "The Conservative Congregation of South Dade". The membership grew to 300 families in the weeks that followed, and it established itself as the premiere conservative synagogue in South Miami.
The name "Bet Shira" meaning "House of Song" was selected to reflect the upbeat and dynamic character of the founders. On May 5, 1988 the Letty Roth Synagogue Complex was dedicated and the Arin Stacey Appplebaum Sanctuary.
Bet Shira is currently one of the largest Conservative congregations in the Southern United States.
Clergy
Bet Shira's clergy include: Auerbach is the founding rabbi of the congregation. Originally from Montreal, Canada, he previously served as rabbi of Ahavat Achim synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia, and then senior rabbi of Beth David Congregation in Miami, FL prior to the founding of Bet Shira. Since his retirement in 2005, he is the rabbi emeritus of the synagogue. In 2005, he was followed as rabbi by Micah Caplan, until 2010. In July, 2010, Brian Schuldenfrei assumed the post of senior rabbi. Prior to coming to Miami, Schuldenfrei was associate rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, California. Mark Kula, brother of Rabbi Irwin Kula, assumed the post of cantor in 1987. Mark and his father Morton Kula are the only father and son that have both been ordained as cantors by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York. Prior to coming to Miami, Mark was the assistant cantor of New York’s Park Avenue Synagogue.
Religious school
The synagogue has an active religious school that serves students from pre-school through the Bar and Bat Mitzvah training.
In addition, a Judaica high school program which allows Jewish students to get college credit from Miami Dade College for taking classes on Jewish topics is held in the Bet Shira classrooms.[1][dead link]
Community programs
Bet Shira holds an annual "Mitzvah day" every year, where volunteers, and members engage in activities such as: Beautification of community sites, planting trees at homes of the disabled and elderly as part of a "Treemendous Miami" project; blood drives; and many clothing,food, toy and medical supply drives to benefit the Miami community. Bet Shira erects the only "drive-thru Sukkah" in the country, where the community is welcome to participate in the celebration of the holiday from the convenience of their car.
Customs
The congregation is an egalitarian synagogue and is affiliated with the United Synagogue of America. As implied by its name, it is a custom of the synagogue to conduct services accompanied by musical instruments and choirs.
References
- ^ "Judaica High School". Retrieved 2007-01-03.
External links