Dear Members and Guests of Beth Shalom of Lake Norman,

We are excited to provide you with details for our High Holiday services for 5770. Following are links for the High Holidays forms for you to complete and return. We ask that these be completed as soon as possible to ensure that we are able to plan appropriately.

High Holiday Schedule

High Holiday Reservation Forms

Children's Services and Childcare

Annual Congregation Guide Print Ad Form

Make Payment Here

Services will be led by our new Rabbi, Corey Helfand, who will be joined by Tamara Wolfson as Cantor. This year’s High Holiday ticket policy has changed slightly to acknowledge the ongoing investment made by members of our congregation. Members of Beth Shalom, Congregation Emanuel, Temple Israel and full-time students will continue to receive free tickets as a benefit of membership. Non-member adults over 18 who are family of members will continue to purchase tickets for a suggested minimum donation of $54 each. Non-members over 18 will continue to have the privilege of purchasing High Holiday tickets, for a suggested minimum donation of $100 each.  Children’s tickets, child care and Rosh Hashanah luncheon will be provided at no charge. Non-members who purchase tickets and then join Beth Shalom as a member before October 31, 2009 may apply the paid ticket price to their annual membership dues.

We are pleased that we did not raise our membership dues this year, despite the additional programming we will be featuring. Our membership dues continue to remain the lowest of any congregation in the area, although we offer a wide of services and events. As we prepare for our fourth year as Beth Shalom, I am proud to look back at the following accomplishments we have achieved:

• Celebrated Beth Shalom’s first Bat Mitzvah.
• Joined the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism as full members.
• Provided a complete B’nai Mitzvah program at the Lake, including hiring of a new B’nai Mitzvah coordinator.
• Renewed the prestigious Gladstein Fellowship grant, enjoying the leadership of Rabbi Jeremy Gerber as he completed his final year of rabbinical school.
• Completed a successful year as partners with St. Alban’s Episcopal Church providing us with a consistent location for Shabbatot and religious school.
• Nurtured our relationships with the interfaith community, including helping build a Habitat for Humanity house, building a sukkah at our new home on the St. Alban’s campus, observing Yom Hashoah, holding an interfaith Passover Seder and reciprocation of childcare services with the congregation from St. Alban’s.

In the upcoming year, we have even more exciting opportunities planned, including welcoming our new Rabbi and his wife, Corey and Jenny Helfand, celebrating B’nai Mitzvot of eight Beth Shalom members between now and June 2010 and adopting a new standardized religious school curriculum through the Institute of Southern Jewish Living (ISJL) for the 2009-2010 school year.

As you will see in the enclosed packet, Beth Shalom is offering you multiple opportunities to perform the double mitzvah of tzedakah by attending High Holiday services, honoring your loved ones or advertising your professional services. Please review the enclosed packet and consider how you can support Beth Shalom in a way that best fits your family. Please complete your form and return it per the instructions by September 4^th.

The continued support, generosity and dedication of individuals like you will grow and sustain our community enabling us to successfully meet the spiritual, educational and social needs of the Jewish community in Lake Norman.

As we embark on 5770 as Beth Shalom of Lake Norman, we look forward to sharing many meaningful times with the members of our community.  Thank you for your commitment to the success of Beth Shalom and may all your prayers for a Healthy and Happy New Year be granted for you and for your loved ones. 

L’Shana Tova,

Beth Levine Cupp, President