Mission & Vision
We are Temple Beth Sholom
A historic synagogue with a forward thinking membership. We are intentionally unaffiliated to allow for innovative programming alongside tradition to serve our diverse community. We create and sustain a village center in which to grow and share our lives through Jewish practices.
We are committed to:
B’tzelem Elohim - in the image of the divine. We foster positive Jewish identity, the recognition of the divine in all, and growing into our best selves.
G’milut chasadim - acts of generosity and kindness. We forge positive relationships by celebrating together and lifting each other when we have fallen.
Tzedek, tzedek tirdof - justice, justice shall you pursue. We encourage deep listening, equitable solutions, and engagement in Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). We partner locally on social justice issues, sustainability, and community resilience.
Here you’ll find:
A WIDE TENT
A warm greeting. Open arms. No judgment. We welcome diversity of ability, background, color, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, religious practice, and political belief. We celebrate each other, we practice deep listening, we assume positive intent, and we learn how to meet each other’s needs in order that we all feel respected, and are all able to participate as fully as we would like to in this community.
A CARING COMMUNITY
A shared meal. A shoulder to lean on. A hearty mazal tov! No one celebrates or faces challenges alone at Temple Beth Sholom. We look out for and support one another.
A SPIRITUAL CENTER
Joyful song. Vibrant discussion. Quiet reflection. Deep Prayer. Here, tradition is affirmed and honored alongside innovation. We develop a connection to the holy and the eternal.
A PLACE TO LEARN
Spiritual Text. Practice. Study. Pursuit. We learn together and individually, and at any age. We learn from each other and from that which has been handed down L’dor V’dor. We keep open and curious minds.
A RESOURCE CENTER
Resiliency. Support. Stability. A center for the whole of our lives. We invite educators and organizations to offer teachings on navigating everyday life. A neighborhood hub in times of emergency. A place you can always count on.
A VOICE FOR JUSTICE
Compassion. Advocacy. Action. We actively take on issues around equity and sustainability. We partner locally with others in the community to make positive change in our corner of the world.
A GATHERING PLACE
A family room. A sanctuary. A picnic lawn. Our campus is a home away from home. We respect our facilities and pitch in to keep them ship-shape.
A PART OF A PEOPLE
We are committed to the vitality, peace and well-being of the Jewish people, here in the Bay Area, in Israel, and around the world.