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Our  Story

 

Congregation Beth Shalom Napa Valley had its beginnings during World War II as “The Napa Jewish Group”, meeting in member’s homes. We organized as Congregation Beth Sholom (CBS) in 1953. The synagogue purchased the old Chamber of Commerce Building, which was moved through the streets of Napa to its present site at 1455 Elm Street, near Old Town Napa. In 1963 a newly remodeled synagogue was dedicated on the present site and a swimming pool was constructed in the early 1970’s in order to serve as the Jewish Community Center of Napa. In 2014 CBS completed construction of the new Synagogue which still sits on its original site at 1455 Elm Street. The entryway to the building is constructed from the beams found in the attic of the original Chamber of Commerce building. The Ark and the Ner Tamid were remodeled from those that were in the Sanctuary from the 1963 remodeling project.

The congregation was an independent synagogue for the first 50 years of its existence with part-time rabbis and lay leaders as religious staff. Volunteers served admirably for the religious school and committees during that time. We are the only synagogue in Napa County.

In 2002, the Congregation voted to become affiliated with the Reform movement and in 2003 hired its first-ever full-time Rabbi. In the latter part of 2003, the congregation hired a part-time cantorial soloist, which when combined with the duties as director of education/ youth programming became a full-time position. In 2003 a building on the premises, which had served as a caretaker's home, was remodeled to house administrative offices and the Rabbi’s study. Also at that time, a part-time administrator was hired to oversee secretarial and financial tasks.

Our religious school is a small dynamic program, which serves our children. Shorashim pre-school is a cooperative parent-run program that meets on Sunday mornings. The CBS religious school includes grades K-7 and Hebrew School, grades 4 – 7 B’nai Mitzvah. A number of exciting opportunities are planned throughout the year for all post-B’nai Mitzvah teens.

Congregation Beth Shalom is a member of the Napa Interfaith Council and is a founding member of The Table (over 20 years), a non-sectarian program that helps feed Napa’s hungry.

Camp Chaverim day camp has served the children of our community for many years and has taken this year off but will be reactivated in the summer of 2019. We have participated in a literacy program for the mainly Hispanic students attending Shearer School, located across the street from the synagogue. We have an active Bikkur Cholim group known as CBS Lotsa Helping Hands.

Since we have been a Reform congregation we have offered a wide array of worship that appeals to those of different ages and Jewish backgrounds.

Our current Rabbi Niles Goldstein, leads our Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat services with our music director, Gordon Lustig. The last Friday of every month is usually lay-led. Rabbi Goldstein also teaches Torah study on a regular basis throughout the year, usually twice per month. This is in addition to Life Long Learning/Adult Education programming, fundraising events, and Jewish holiday services. Our celebration dinners feature everything from latkes to Chinese Food (Erev Navidad on Dec. 24!) and are often accompanied by the landmark wines of the Napa Valley, many made by our own members.

A history of the Napa Valleys Jews from 1848 to the present is documented in Napa Valley’s Jewish Heritage by Donna Mendelsohn and Henry Michalski. An exhibit of the Jews of the Valley is part of the Land and Its People at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville.

Mon, March 18 2024 8 Adar II 5784