A Home for Conservative Judaism

Our symbol above reflects the flowing hug of the tallit, 
the traditional prayer-shawl worn by Jews during the morning service.  
The curve around the C is representative of the beckoning smile offered by CBA, Florida’s Friendliest Congregation.  
The knotted tzitzit on the four corners remind us that we are tied to each other 
and to the wider community in which we live.  
The tassels and knots of the tzitzit are symbolic of the mitzvot, the religious responsibilities we have to appreciate 
our Heritage and our Destiny as members of Congregation Beth Am.

About Us

In 1975, Congregation Beth Am was established as the first synagogue in Seminole County.  Our founding families were most concerned with keeping synagogue affiliation accessible to as many people as possible.  To this day, we strive to make our membership attractive and affordable to all in search of a spiritual home.

The Hebrew phrase, Beth Am, means Our People's Home.  Our name encompasses our philosophy of meeting the needs of our members, from birth through senior status.  We are an egalitarian, Conservative congregation, where both men and women, on an equal basis, are encouraged to fulfill their Jewish heritage through education, worship, and lay leadership.

At Congregation Beth Am, we understand that inclusivity is the key to Jewish Destiny.  We are thus supportive of all our members who take Judaism seriously:

Through active involvement and participation, everyone can become a close family member and enjoy the intimate and friendly atmosphere at Florida's Friendliest Congregation.

Rabbi Rick Sherwin has over 30 years of experience as a pulpit Rabbi.  He is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.  He has been the spiritual leader of congregations in Arizona, Tennessee and Florida.  Rabbi Rick is well known to the Jewish Community of Central Florida.  He serves as an adjunct professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Central Florida.  He is the immediate past president of the Greater Orlando Board of Rabbis. As a Conservative synagogue, Congregation Beth Am is dedicated to "conserving" Jewish Tradition and interfacing it with the contemporary world.  Conservative Judaism is based on the model set by the Rabbis of the Talmud, which makes our approach to Traditional Judaism an authentic form of Jewish interpretation, ideology and implementation.

We speak of belonging to Congregation Beth Am as a privilege, and with privileges come responsibilities.  Everyone understands the need to make a financial commitment, but we also need to accept responsibility for making a spiritual commitment.

    This is my Synagogue 
It is composed of people like me.
     We make it the way it is.
     It will be friendly, if I am. 
Its seats will be filled, if I help to fill them.
    It will bring other people into its worship services,  experiences and fellowship,
If I bring others to attend, to learn, and to enjoy with me.
    It will be a Synagogue filled with loyalty and love,
If I am filled with loyalty and love.
 It will be full of faith, if I am.
 The prayer experiences will be filled with spirit, if I attend and have spirit.
 If I make others feel needed, then I will serve my congregation well,
 and my Synagogue will always need me.
 The congregation will be filled with warmth,
 if I bring warmth with me whenever I walk through the front door.
Therefore, with the help of God,
I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all these things
That I want my Synagogue to be.