Our Mission
Am Yisrael Chai is a thoughtful curation of first-hand testimonials, speakers, educational classes, school programming, and relevant dialogue that will guide us to be proactive advocates for Israel. We aim to create immersive experiential opportunities that link all levels of education and participation congregationally to Israel. Congregation B’nai Israel directly translates to the Children of Israel; we exist because Israel exists. Am Yisrael Chai vows to educate and enliven our congregation by weaving Israel into the framework of CBI for generations to come.
benefits of joining
Joining Am Yisrael Chai is an invitation to deepen your connection to Israel and become an integral part of our synagogue's vibrant community. Becoming a member is simple and accessible to all who share our passion for Israel.
- Exclusive member pricing for event, programs and learning opportunities
- Advance notice and priority access to events and programs
- Shape our calendar with your valuable input and suggestions
- Be part of a supportive community where like-minded individuals come together to celebrate and advocate for our Jewish homeland
- Forge a meaningful connection to Israel and its rich heritage
Simply click below to register for the 2024-2025 year. Please note, you must be a CBI member to join.
meet the leadership
Meet the dedicated members of our Am Yisrael Chai leadership team, a passionate group committed to fostering a deeper connection to Israel within our synagogue community.
Questions about Am Yisrael Chai? Click here to email Alex Cender.
get involved
donate to jnf-usa's resilience campaign
Congregation B'nai Israel and its Am Yisrael Chai Auxiliary will be there to support JNF-USA and their Reimagine Resilience Campaign efforts when they start to rebuild communities in the North of Israel whose lives were devastated by the attacks of October 7th. Below are some key areas we will be focusing our efforts towards:
1. Provide necessary supplies to evacuees, including bedding, toiletries, clothing, etc.
2. Provide Emergency First Responders with crucial firefighting and protective equipment for civil defense, including radios, bulletproof vests, helmets, and tactical clothing.
3. Provide high-quality psychological treatment for civilians, including children, who have experienced this catastrophe firsthand, as well as additional respite activities for the children traumatized by terror.
We stand together with JNF-USA, as one Jewish community, ready to help Israelis in this difficult time. Congregation B'nai Israel has pledged its solidarity to Israel with the creation of its newest Israel auxiliary, Am Yisrael Chai. Am Yisrael Chai vows to foster and strengthen the bond between Israel and all facets of CBI for generations to come.
We exist because Israel exists. AM YISRAEL CHAI!
JNF-USA Bomb Shelter Painting Project
For over 20 years, residents of Israel’s Gaza Envelope and northern regions have endured ongoing threats from rockets and other attacks. Thanks to your generosity, Congregation B’nai Israel’s members have funded three life-saving bomb shelters, providing vital protection and hope to families in need.
These shelters, made possible by your donations, go beyond safety. Through our partnership with Jewish National Fund-USA, these essential structures have been transformed into vibrant, welcoming spaces. Responding to acts of terror, a dedicated Israeli artist partners with JNF to make it his mission to beautify these shelters, which serve as constant reminders of the dangers in the region. His work creates a calming oasis for families when they need to escape, helping bring moments of peace during difficult times.
Your support has made a tangible difference in the lives of so many. Scroll below to see the incredible impact you’ve made!
Thank you for helping us protect and uplift communities in Israel. Your generosity saves lives and brings hope.
ARZA
The Association of Reform Zionists of America or ARZA is the single largest supporter of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) the Israel Religious Action (IRAC). ARZA also provides educational materials about Israel and Zionism for Reform congregations, assists in bringing Reform Jews to Israel, and provides pre- and post-trip programming for congregations and individuals in order to enhance their Israel experience.
The cost to join is just $50 per household (or $18 for students and young adults ages 11-21).
Please support ARZA by including the ARZA dues with your membership payment.
For more information about the ARZA group at CBI, contact Susi Glatt.
march of the living A life-changing experience
For two weeks every spring, as many as 15,000 Jewish teens and adults from around the world meet in Poland on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. They come together to march in solidarity on a 3-kilometer walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau concentration camps. The actual March of the Living on Yom HaShoah is a silent, deeply emotional tribute to all victims of the Holocaust.
Participants spend a week in Poland visiting sacred memorial sites, as well as places of former and current Jewish life and culture. The experience in Poland is profound, as participants learn what was lost but also they get to observe how the small Polish-Jewish community is beginning to flourish again today. It is the march from Holocaust to Rescue, with the trip culminating in Israel to observe Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day), a grand day of celebration which includes a second, joyous March of the Living from the Jerusalem Municipality Complex to the Western Wall.
Each year, students and adults from CBI join March of the Living on this spiritual journey.
partner agencies
initiatives
Created by Congregation B'nai Israel, MILI is a platform that provides tools and resources for rabbis to help keep Israel at the center of the reform Jewish experience. MILI exists to reignite meaningful zionist connections with the State of Israel for liberal Jews worldwide - by focusing on the reform rabbinate.