Shanah Tovah! A happy and healthy New Year! Whether you are a member or a guest, we are glad to have you as part of our worship community for the High Holy Days at Congregation Berith Sholom. We are pleased to be known as a warm and welcoming congregation, one of only very few synagogues in the Capital Region that has a long history of opening our doors for these holidays to unaffiliated Jews. We have maintained this tradition, even as our own membership has grown, and we have had to develop systems, including our audio/video simulcast hook-up, to accommodate our guests. However, the costs have grown beyond our means. If you support – and especially if you benefit from – these arrangements, we need your help. Please help us to sustain the open doors of Congregation Berith Sholom with a special gift, if you are a member, or a contribution, if you are a guest. ($100 is recommended.) Giving based on your ability is appreciated. Our ability to continue without the fuss of tickets and a fee for non-members depends upon your generosity. Please indicate “open doors” in the memo section of your check.

We also hope that our guests will consider joining our congregational family. Some of us became members after coming for a few years to High Holy Days services. Please call (272 8872 ext 300)or email our office after the holidays for membership information.

A donation to the Synagogue is a lovely way to mark a simchah , to honor or memorialize a loved one, or to say thank you. We will acknowledge the donation as you direct. You can contribute to any of these funds:

• Justin T. Walsh Campership Fund Justin died at a very young age. His family dedicated this fund in his memory to provide scholarships for our young people to Jewish summer camps, regional Youth Group events, and Israel.
• Revolving Loan Fund Provides small interest-free loans to congregants. If you are in need of a loan from this fund, please speak in confidence to the Rabbi.
• Marc Mendelsohn Library Fund Established to honor Marc's memory. Used to acquire and maintain books and software.
• Music Fund Helps to fund the many musical activities in our congregation, including High Holy Days, choir and orchestra, and Cantor.
• Shirley L. Miller Family Support Fund Shirley served in multiple capacities at Berith Sholom, including as Rabbi Guttmann's secretary for many years. Established by her husband Seymour to provide tangible expressions of congregational support in times of family crisis.
• Sara O. Gould Fund Sara was superintendent of the Sunday School for more than a decade and devoted to the Temple. Established by her husband and children to provide awards for Sunday and Hebrew School students, and gifts at graduation, Consecration, Bar & Bat Mitzvah, and Confirmation.
• Ruth Rosner Handicap Fund Established in Ruth's memory by her husband Joseph for construction and maintenance of facilities that promote the full inclusion of physically challenged individuals.
• Rabbi's Discretionary Fund The Rabbi, in the name of the congregation, uses this fund to give tsedakah and to do mitzvot both within the congregation and outside.
• Tikkun Olam Fund Used to support the congregation's social action and social advocacy programs, including meals for the needy and adopt-a-family.

Donations not otherwise directed go into the Operating Account and are used to defray day-to-day expenses. This allows us to keep dues lower than the actual cost of running the synagogue.

Just indicate your choice and mail your check to

Congregation Berith Sholom
167 Third St
Troy, NY 12180

Thank you for your support.