Bet Shira Congregation

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Bet Shira Congregation is a synagogue affiliated with Conservative Judaism located in Miami, Florida.

1 Religious school
2 Community programs
3 Prayer services
4 Customs
5 History
6 External links

[edit] Religious school

The Judaica high school program which allows Jewish students to get college credit from Miami Dade College for taking classes on Jewish topics is held on the Bet Shira classrooms.¹

[edit] Community programs

Bet Shira holds an annual "Mitzvah day" every year, where volunteers, and members engage in activities such as: Gardening at Miami Metrozoo and Pinecrest Gardens; planting trees at homes of the disabled and elderly as part of a Treemendous Miami project; blood drives; clothing, toy, and medical supply drives; preparing sandwiches for Camillus House.[gardening at Miami Metrozoo and Pinecrest Gardens; planting trees at homes of the disabled and elderly as part of a Treemendous Miami project; blood drives; clothing, toy, and medical supply drives; preparing sandwiches for Camillus House. ²

[edit] Prayer services

Everyday from Monday-Friday, Bet Shira has a minyan at 7:30 a.m. On Sundays, the monrning minyan is at 9:30.

Shabbat morning prayers begin at 9:30 A.M as well, and at 9:00 A.M on Shabbat morning a class is taught by Rabbi Kaplan on that weeks Torah portion.

[edit] Customs

The vast majority of members of the congregation at Bet Shira follow the minhagim (customs) the Jews of Germany followed. An example would be that, there are few congregations in Miami today, that lay tefillin on Chol HaMoed, and Rabbi Kaplan of Bet Shira encourages his members to lay tefillin on Chol HaMoed.

[edit] History

In February 1985, a nucleus of families heeded the call of Rabbi David H. Auerbach "to go where the children are" and created the framework to establish "The Conservative Congregation of South Dade" to serve the Miami-Dade County, Florida area. Within three weeks more than 200 members pledged their support and $1,000,000. The membership increased to 300 families in the weeks that followed. A $3.5 million goal was set at the initial meeting and the enthusiasm of these committed families showed the need for a new Conservative congregation.

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 has continued to grow and develop. Bet Shira is currenly known as one of the largest Conservative congregations in the Southern United States.