Congregation Beth Israel (Charlottesville, Virginia)

For similarly named synagogues, see Beth Israel.

Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 301 East Jefferson Street in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the United States.^{[2][self-published source?]} Founded in 1882,^{[3][self-published source?]} it grew out of Charlottesville's Hebrew Benevolent Society, which was created in 1870.^{[4][self-published source?]}

Beth Israel
Beth Israel synagogue
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Tom Gutherz
Status	Active
Location
Location	301 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, Virginia
Country	United States
Location in Virginia
Geographic coordinates	38°01′55″N 78°28′44″W
Architecture
Date established	1882 (as a congregation)
Completed	1882
Website
cbicville.org
[1][self-published source?]

Overview

The congregation's 1882 building is the oldest synagogue building in Virginia.^[5] It joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1927^[3] and is now a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. The synagogue has an active youth group called Beth Israel Temple Youth (BITY), participating in events with the synagogue throughout the year. It also has a preschool, and religious/Hebrew school.^{[2][self-published source?]}

Congregation Beth Israel offers adult education in the form of lectures, films, and Beit Midrash text study. Worship services include Traditional Egalitarian Shabbat Morning Service, Kabbalat Shabbat Service, and Mishkan T'filah (Reform) Services. These services are intended to be appropriate across ages and household composition. CBI is also involved in mitzvot and acts of tikkun olam through association with and grant funding for local Charlottesville non-profits.^{[2][self-published source?]}

As of 2024^[update], the Senior Rabbi is Tom Gutherz, and the Assistant Rabbi is Ezra Leventhal.^[6] Daniel Alexander, Rabbi Emeritus, served as rabbi from 1988 to 2016, and his retirement led the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate to issue Joint Resolution No. 381, commending Alexander's service to the Congregation Beth Israel and the Charlottesville community for 37 years.^{[6][self-published source?]}