Temple Beth Am is a progressive, welcoming synagogue in Seattle’s Jewishly happening North End. This Reform temple is committed to helping Jews from diverse backgrounds build a spiritual and caring community, where they can realize their own capacity to be reflections of the holy. Beth Am fosters an environment where members, Jewish or not, can explore their spiritual connection, engage with Jewish intellectual and cultural life, and join as activists in bringing tikkun olam to the world.
Worship on Friday night takes many forms: Klezmer, camp-style, choir, and even Jewish jazz services. On Shabbat mornings, Temple Beth Am offers Torah study and a joyful Shabbat service, followed by a kiddush luncheon open to all. They also have separate tot-oriented Shabbat evening and morning services.
Temple Beth Am’s engaging religious school educates nearly 600 youngsters on Sundays and Tuesdays, creating a love of Torah and a sense of community for the next generation. The synagogue sponsors “Am Yisrael High,” a high school program on Tuesday nights open to all affiliated teens, and a “Madrichim” program that trains nearly 100 teens to be teaching assistants. The youth department oversees fun and exciting activities for teens and middle schoolers, led by a full-time youth director.
As a synagogue committed to bringing justice and compassion into the world, Beth Am created H2R (Homeless to Renter) to support homeless families settling into stable living situations. Besides the annual Mitzvah Day, temple members prepare meals for Teen Feed and Angeline’s shelter, and sponsor food drives for Jewish Family Service.
Temple Beth Am promotes lifelong learning and is committed to being a center of Jewish life for people of all ages. Every Sunday, adults gather to hear guests or fellow members speak on topics of both current and Judaic interest. Adults learn Hebrew, prepare for adult B’nai Mitzvah, study Torah with the senior rabbis, and learn from visiting scholars. Beth Am members have countless opportunities to connect with each other and with their Judaism: Chavurot, a 20s and 30s group called YABA, a young families group, Parsha & Poker, and senior programming.
Temple Beth Am also houses innovative cultural activities. The congregation sponsors Drash Northwest Mosaic, an annual prose and poetry literary review with a primary focus on Northwest Jewish writers. KlezKidz is a multi-generational Jewish music ensemble that performs for Beth Am holiday celebrations and community groups.
For information about membership, contact Program Director Alysa Rosen.