Congregation B'nai
Emet is a Reform congregation with a warm approach to tradition...we
seek to make Jewish life meaningful and significant by traditional
Jewish practices with contemporary perspectives. The original
principles: gender equality, participatory services, family
tradition, education for children and adults, community involvement
have remained central as B'nai Emet has grown and developed.
Reform Judaism is
the means by which we practice the ideals of Judaism. We encourage
our synagogue family to learn and understand these ideals, always
being mindful of our rich heritage and the history behind our
traditions. We take a stand on the ethics and morals of Judaism,
and create an atmosphere in which all have the opportunity to
choose their individual means of observance of Jewish customs
and ceremonies.
We invite your participation
in our congregational family so that your spiritual needs can
be freely expressed and satisfied. If this is your first visit
to B'nai Emet, we look forward to greeting you during
the Oneg. Let us welcome you and answer any questions you may
have, you may reach us at (805) 581-3723.
For
information on joining our temple family or purchasing
High Holiday tickets, go to our Membership
page.
Family Shabbat Services
(child and toddler-oriented) are held the first Friday of the
month and begin at 7:00 PM. The rest of our weekly Shabbat evening
services begin Fridays at 8:00 PM.
Shabbat morning services
on Saturday are held for Bar and Bat Mitzvah and other special
occasions. Services are highly participatory, with lots of singing
and often lively discussion. Families are welcome. Kiddush and
Oneg Shabbat follow every service.
Annual High Holy
Day Services are held at the Mt Sinai Cemetary & Memorial
Park in Simi Valley for the entire membership and their immediate
families. High Holy Day tickets are included with membership.
Admission is by ticket only.
Tickets are available
to the Jewish community at large. Click
here to purchase tickets.
Services of Clergy
Rabbi Michele Paskow
(click for a biography of Rabbi Michele)
leads our Congregation in worship services with Cantor Michael
Russ (click for a biography of Cantor Russ). Our clergy are available to perform all life-cycle events
including Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, baby namings,
weddings and funerals. The Rabbi holds office hours by appointment.
We offer creative programs
for kindergarten to high school students. The curriculum has an
emphasis on the study of Hebrew, Jewish Holidays, customs, traditions,
life cycle events, Israel and contemporary issues. Judaica
High School students study towards Confirmation.
Adult education
programs are ongoing for adult enrichment.
CBE Preschool
and Kindergarten holds classes at our Kadota Street
campus. The fully accredited school offers programs
for full time, half time, prime time, kindergarten
and after school programs.
Havurah
A program for adult
and family groups which pursue special interests involving social
and cultural activities.
Affiliated with
the Women of Reform Judaism, Sisterhood supports the principles
and programs of the Congregation. Monthly meetings generally
highlight items of interest to Jewish women and include planning for fund raising
events; each concludes with a "social hour".
Women of CBE maintains and operates
a gift shop, Simi's
House of Judaica, with an impressive selection of religious items
appropriate for education, holidays, and special occasions.
Available year round.
The Men's Club meets
on a monthly basis, normally at the home of one of its members.
Its primary purpose is to support the Congregation in its activities
and fund-raising.
Also, Men's Club
arranges occasional family outings and has sponsored the Congregation's
Pictorial Membership Directory.
This program is
conducted by the Sisterhood of the Congregation. Supermarket
scrip (market money) is available for virtually every local
market in the Simi Valley/Moorpark communities. Also available are
gift cards to several local and national
merchants. Contact
the Congregation office or go to
the Sisterhood page for more information.
Newsletter
A bi-monthly newsletter
is published to keep the membership apprised of Congregational
events and activities, religious school news, discussion of
contemporary issues, and personal happenings. We
also have weekly email bulletins for keeping up
with current temple and community events.
CBE
BOARD 2009-2010
President - Michael Hollander
Executive Vice President - Mitchell Salberg
VP/Membership
- Shelly Botan
VP/Fundraising - Jerry Auerbach
VP/Programs
- Jennifer Rosenstein
VP/Havurah - Nirit Levy
VP/Religious
School - Deborah Bass
Social Action VP - Open
Secretary - Debbie Knecht
Treasurer -
Stan Melnick
Financial Officer - Eric Bordo
Immediate
Past President -
Earl Rosado
Affiliates
Sisterhood
President - Geri Brandler
Men's Club President -
Michael Mutal
Preschool Board President - Fawn Brodey
Staff
Preschool
Director - Lindy Schneider
Preschool Office
Manager - Robyn Voigt
Religious School Administrator
- Meridith Patera
Temple Administrative Assistant
- Marilyn Hollander
To contact any
of the above, send
an email to the temple with the person's name as
the subject.
