Membership
Welcome to Temple Beth-El!
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining our community. TBE strives to be a nexus of Jewish life for all of greater Ithaca, and to be a welcoming face of Jewish community that meets the needs of the vast array of Jewish people! Here’s how the process works:
- Fill out THIS (super short) MEMBERSHIP INTEREST FORM! Someone from our Welcoming Team will be in touch with you to schmooze over coffee, tea, or Zoom, get to know you (and your household if applicable). We’ll let you know what TBE has to offer and answer any questions you might have (or point you in the right direction to get them answered).
- If you’re feeling good about officially joining our community, we’ll send you the (slightly longer but totally manageable) Membership Registration Form. And we’ll stay in touch with you in case you have any questions about the form.
- While it’s true that synagogues need money to function, finances are never a barrier to enjoying full membership at Temple Beth-El. Our fabulous Dues Coordinator will give you a call, explain our dues structure (see below for the short version), and you’ll be able to totally confidentially decide on a meaningful and feasible arrangement for you and your household.
That’s it! Welcome to TBE! We’re so glad you’re here. Please know that our volunteer Welcoming Team and our professional staff – Rabbi Caleb Brommer, Calle Schueler (Director of Education and Engagement), and Adeena Brown (Administrative Coordinator) – are ALL extremely happy to be a resource to you throughout the above steps. Their contact info can be found on the TBE website here.
Temple Beth-El Dues Structure
These are the basics. We’re happy to get more specific!
- New members are always offered a dues rate of $18 per household for the first year of membership!
- After the first year, we continue to offer reduced dues which gradually increase based on age.
- While TBE has a 'full dues' rate set annually, for some households, the full rate presents a financial challenge, while other households can afford more. As stated above, synagogues do need money to function. But finances are never a barrier to full membership and participation at Temple Beth-El. Your household’s dues arrangement is kept entirely confidential, and can be adjusted as needed as circumstances shift.
- Our Dues Coordinator, Nancy Emerson, is happy to answer any questions at dues@tbeithaca.org or (607)-227-0643.