920 Franklin Road Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Phone:(540) 343-0289 Fax: (540) 344-2846
Founded in 1900, Beth Israel today includes about 160 families and individuals
who have found a warm Jewish connection with this Conservative congregation. We
are affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and subscribe
to traditional worship services with men and women sharing full liturgical
equality.
We adhere to traditional practices and, accordingly, we maintain a well-stocked Kosher kitchen that not only sustains us, but keeps us spiritually and socially connected.
Our membership reflects the range of contemporary Jewish experience in that
some of us have come to Beth Israel as Jews raised within Reform, Conservative
or Orthodox traditions and some of us have come from backgrounds without any
Jewish upbringing at all. All of us have found a home in this small but vibrant
congregation.
Rabbi Werbin
Beth Israel Synagogue was delighted to welcome Rabbi Fabian Werbin and his family in 2008.
Rabbi Werbin was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He attended elementary and Jewish high school there. He received his two undergraduate degrees, in Bible and in Jewish Thought, from Haifa University in Israel. He received his Smicha (rabbinical title) in 2003 from the Seminario Rabinico Latino Americano in Buenos Aires.
While pursuing his studies, Rabbi Werbin led a 350 family congregation in Parana, Argentina for three years. After rabbinical ordination, he was the Rabbi of a 130 family congregation in Barranquilla, Colombia. Rabbi Werbin holds certification as an Elementary and High School teacher. He is conversant in Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, and English.
Rabbi Werbin is focused on helping our members to find personal meaning in Torah, prayer, and the richness of our Jewish heritage. He wants to ensure that no one will feel like a stranger in the Synagogue, that we offer a variety of programs and observance, and that we continue our tradition of Tikun Olam (perfecting the world).
Rabbi Werbin is married to Patricia Gradel, a psychologist with a Masters degree in Jewish Education. They are devoted parents to a son, Ariel, who was two years old when he joined us, and a daughter, Catalina, who was one year. In his (limited) spare time, Rabbi Werbin enjoys reading, soccer, and a good joke.
| Jewish Life |
Holiday Services include: Rosh Hashanah (two days), Yom Kippur, Succot, Simhat Torah, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot.
Sisterhood meets monthly for a luncheon and program but acts daily in
many important ways. Most events at the synagogue are underwritten by this
group. Fund raising is a big part of Sisterhood's mission and it does so
through the publication of a Jewish community directory, a Jewish book fair,
and an annual rummage sale that is a Roanoke institution.
Special Events:
There are a number of very popular special events throughout the year. The
Chanukah dinner and congregational Passover seder are two of the many dinner
celebrations held each year along with Purim, Succot and Simchat Torah
festivities. Congregational Shabbat luncheons and dinners are held throughout
the year.
| Services |
SATURDAY SERVICES -
Services are held weekly
at 9:30 AM.
WEEKDAY MINYANIM
- Weekday Minyanim and breakfasts are held Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 AM.
SUNDAY MORNING MINYAN AND
BREAKFAST are
held at 8:30 AM. These services are geared for young adults and children; the
congregation at large is welcomed as well. During this service, the rabbi will
show you how to put on tefillin.
JUNIOR CONGREGATION SERVICES
are held once a month at 10:30 A.M. for children from third grade through
Bar/Bat Mitzvah (September through May).
TOT SHABBAT SERVICES are
conducted once a month for the younger children.
| Membership and News |
Want information about joining
Beth Israel?
Contact Joe Penn at: 540-989-8061 or e-mail: jhpenn@cox.net
Or, if you prefer, write to him in care of
Beth Israel Synagogue,
920 Franklin Road Roanoke, VA 24016 and he will call you.
Beth Israel is now an Amazon.com Associate. Amazon.com is a source for books
and many other items... and 5% of every purchase made through our web site goes
directly to Beth Israel. For easy shopping :
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