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ברוכים הבאים
Welcome to Beth Jacob Congregation

We are a welcoming, egalitarian Conservative synagogue of more than 350 families located in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, easily accessible from all parts of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. We are guided by the principles of Torah (study), Avodah (meaningful worship and work), and Gemilut Chasidim (acts of loving kindness). We exist as a congregation in order to practice and further our understanding of Conservative Judaism through the celebration of Shabbat, holidays and lifecycle events, and daily practice.

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LINKS

CURRENT BJC WEEKLY EMAIL

CURRENT KOL YA'AKOV

SHABBAT/HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICE LIVESTREAM

WEEKDAY SERVICE ZOOM

LATEST COVID PROTOCOL INFO | PROTOCOL CLARIFICATION

Featured Events & Activities

NEW HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICE START TIME - 9 am

Due to the unique circumstances in which we find ourselves holding High Holiday services this year, Rabbi Rubin, along with Beth Jacob’s Ritual Committee, have decided to streamline services; as a result, the new start time is changing from the previously posted 8:30 am to 9:00 am for Yom Kippur morning services.

HIGH HOLIDAY INFORMATION

Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights is an egalitarian and participatory community where anyone and everyone is welcome. We will have a full array of High Holy Day services this year, in-person and streaming at Beth-Jacob.org/YouTube, led by our new Senior Rabbi, Adam Rubin. From Rosh Hashanah to our Break Fast on Yom Kippur, from Sukkot to our festive Simchat Torah celebration, we observe the Holy Days with joy, meaning, and a true spirit of welcoming. We have creative children’s programming and family services, and special programming just for teens. We do not have (and have never had) High Holy Day tickets—everyone is welcome. We look forward to meeting you and celebrating the New Year with you! Feel free to reach out at 651-452-2226 or bjcoffice@Beth-Jacob.org for more information.

High Holiday Services, like Shabbat services, will be both in-person as well as livestreamed at Beth-Jacob.org/YouTube.

COVID Precautions: Services (besides Kol Nidre) will be outside under a tent. EVERYONE who is eligible needs to be vaccinated to attend, inside or outside. Proof of vaccination will be required for everyone over the age of 12 to enter the building, consisting of either:
  • Uploading proof of vaccination: We are re-opening the proof of vaccination form until Monday, September 13th at 11 pm.
  • Bringing your vaccine card to services. (If you have not already uploaded it to be added to our list).
Masks will be required for everyone inside the shul and outside under the tents. We will continue to assess the current situation right up until the holidays and will notify the congregation of any changes in COVID protocols as decisions are made. Latest info: Beth-Jacob.org/COVID.

Sign up or get more info about the following at the links below:

RABBI RUBIN INSTALLATION WEEKEND

Join us as we celebrate the installation of Senior Rabbi Adam Rubin!

Saturday, Sept 25:
Shabbat kiddush luncheon and learn with special guest Rabbi Cheryl Peretz
Open Sukkah and Havdalah, 5:30 pm – 8 pm at the home of Rabbi Morris Allen & Phyllis Gorin

Sunday, Sept. 26
10 am Installation Ceremony*
11 am Brunch

*The installation and brunch will take place under a tent outside.
Masks are required for the installation portion of the morning.

BETH JACOB ONGOING CLASSES

Fall classes start in October!
MONDAYS:
  • Noon: The Rest Is Commentary – Now Go and Learn It; with Rabbi Adam Rubin. The weekly Torah portion through the lens of classic interpretation. At Beth Jacob and on Zoom at Beth-Jacob.org/commentary.
  • 7:30 pm: Prepare My Prayer Before You; with Rabbi Adam Rubin. Explore the siddur to find meaning, inspiration, and spiritual sustenance. At Beth Jacob and on Zoom at Beth-Jacob.org/prayer
WEDNESDAYS:
  • Around 8 am: Morning Mishnah; with Rabbi Tamar. The Mishnah is an edited record of the complex body of halachic material transmitted in the aftermath of the destruction of the Second Temple. Its intention was to train the sages in thinking through the legal issues that inform Halacha. In encountering these texts together, we gain access to the conversations out of which developed the foundational principles that shaped Jewish law as we know it today. At Beth Jacob and on Zoom at Beth-Jacob.org/Mishnah (or just stay on Zoom after Morning Minyan).
THURSDAYS:
  • 11 am: The Life and Works of Abraham Joshua Heschel; with Rabbi Tamar. Brilliant, complex, and inspiring both as a teacher of Torah and an activist, we will spend the year trying to better understand Heschel’s life and legacy. We’ll begin with Shai Held’s book: Abraham Joshua Heschel: the Call of Transcendence. At Beth Jacob, and on Zoom by request.
  • 6:30-7:45 pm: Adult Beginning Hebrew Class; with Steve Greenberg. This class is for people who want to learn to read (decode) Hebrew and understand some of the basic words in blessings and prayers. We will use the book: Learn Hebrew Today. At Beth Jacob and on Zoom at Beth-Jacob.org/SteveHebrew. To register for the class email Steve Greenberg at sigminn@gmail.com.
SATURDAYS:
  • 9:15-10:00 am, 1st and 3rd Saturdays: For the Jew in the Pew; with Rabbi Lynn Liberman. Welcome back to Shabbat Morning Study! Our siddur is filled with words of prayer, with some of the oldest of these found in Tehilim—the Book of Psalms! We will explore the Psalms that are widely used throughout the Shabbat service, considering their meaning and exploring why and how these words are still a part of our liturgy today. No prior experience needed, texts are provided in Hebrew and English!
IF THERE’S SUFFICIENT INTEREST:
  • On One Foot: an Introduction to Judaism; With Rabbi Rubin & Rabbi Tamar. Judaism is not just a religion or a culture or people, or even a way of living in the world – it is a world unto itself, encompassing ancient and newer rituals, complex ideas, and thousands of years of history. If you’ve been curious about Jewish learning but didn’t know where to start, this class is for you! The class will be offered starting this fall only if there is sufficient interest. Please go to Beth-Jacob.org/intro for more info or to register your interest in the class.

Divrei Torah

Check out our archive of Divrei Torah. These are available for those who missed them the first time, or who want to revisit them.

Click here to read them!

Out-of-town visitor?

Welcome! We look forward to worshiping with you, and sharing Shabbat and holidays. For Shabbat hospitality, please contact our office at (651) 452-2226. Find Us!

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Antiracism at BJC

Learn about Beth Jacob’s antiracism work

Calendar

Beth Jacob hosts a wide variety of activities serving the diverse interests and needs of our congregation.

View full event calendar →