Beth El Hebrew Congregation

Our incoming rabbi was featured in the most recent edition of the Washington Jewish Week! 👀

“This is what I have been waiting for and working for,” Rabbi Rachel Saphire said.

Beth El Hebrew Congregation to Welcome Its First Leading Female Rabbi Rabbi Rachel Saphire will soon make history as the first female rabbi to lead a 167-year-old Alexandria synagogue. She is set to begin this role at Beth El Hebrew Congregation on July 1.

On this Global Running Day, Cantor Kaufman and Beth El member, Janet Garber are scouting locations for next years inaugural Beth El walk and run 5k!

Cantor Kaufman has been dreaming of a Beth El 5k for years and we are so excited to make this dream come true!

If you are interested in being a sponsor and volunteering to make this an incredible event, please reach out to Cantor Kaufman.

On this first day of Pride Month, we send our warmest wishes to every member of the Beth El community: our LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies. In other words- our entire community!

This afternoon, Cantor Kaufman joined Delegate Kirk McPike and community leaders in Richmond in support of the Freedom to Marry Amendment, which will appear on this November’s ballot.

Virginia’s constitution still contains language defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Should federal protections for marriage equality ever be weakened or reversed, Virginia families would be left vulnerable. This November, we have the opportunity to live our Reform Jewish values and change that.

Wishing everyone a meaningful and joyful Pride.

Join us on Sunday, June 7 at 12 PM for our Annual Meeting! This is a chance to come together as a community, hear about the year's highlights, and share your perspective.

What to expect:
- Year-in-review highlights
- Financial update
- Discussion and vote on future initiatives
- Board elections
- Community Q&A

All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Your presence and your voice make a difference. We hope to see you there!

We heard lots of wonderful suggestions for daytime programming at Beth El at last week's luncheon. Even if you weren't able to join us, we'd like your feedback on what kinds of programs you might be interested in attending at Beth El - starting this summer! Use the link below to share your thoughts:

Daytime Programming at Beth El Ideas for events that are offered during the week at Beth El during the day.

We have some exciting news to share! Beginning this Friday, Beth El Hebrew Congregation will hold Friday night Erev Shabbat services at 6:30 PM — permanently. No more seasonal time changes. Consistency has always been our goal, and one predictable time year-round means one less thing to keep track of and one more reason to make Friday night Shabbat a regular part of your week. After a close look at service times at synagogues across the country, it's clear that 6:30 PM is where the Jewish world gathers on Friday nights — more than 80% of congregations nationally, including almost every major Reform synagogue in our region, welcome Shabbat at 6:30 or earlier. One time, all year, every Friday. We'll see you at 6:30!

Carly Rubenstein, Beth El President, recently returned from the URJ Scheidt Seminar for Presidents and Presidents-Elect. Since 1998, this meeting has engaged over 1,700 congregational presidents to learn, network, build relationships, and enhance leadership skills.

Thank you to Carly for representing our congregation, and for bringing back ideas, connections, and inspiration that will help shape our congregation's future.

📸 Pictured (L to R): Dr. Andrew Rehfeld (President, Hebrew Union College), Carly Rubenstein (President, Beth El Hebrew Congregation), Shelley Niceley Groff (Chair, North American Board of the URJ), and Rabbi Rick Jacobs (President, URJ)

We're gathering for a special midday luncheon on Thursday, May 14 to share a meal and shape something new together. Beth El is exploring expanded daytime programming, and we want to hear from you: What would you love to see? What would bring you together during the day?

Whether you work from home, keep a flexible schedule, are retired, or just love a good midday gathering, this conversation is for you.

✨ Free to attend 🕛 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Bring your ideas, your curiosity, and your appetite.

Register on our website: https://bethelhebrew.shulcloud.com/event/Daytime%20%20at%20Beth%20E

We are overjoyed to share a historic milestone for our congregation! Beth El Hebrew Congregation is proud to announce that Rabbi Rachel Saphire will join us beginning July 1, 2026, making her the first female rabbi to lead Beth El in our 167-year history.

Rabbi Saphire brings 17 years of distinguished rabbinical experience, a deep commitment to building community across generations, and a passion for meaningful Jewish life. We can't wait to welcome her to Alexandria!

🔗 Read the full announcement: https://www.bethelhebrew.org/news/rabbi-rachel-saphire-named-first-female-rabbi-to-lead-beth-el-hebrew-congregation/